Safely transporting children to and from school requires safe buses and well-trained bus drivers. A cooperative and understanding driving public who exercise caution and safety is also required. Please adhere to the following points when driving among school buses.
Stop When Children are Entering or Leaving a Bus
When a bus is stopped and its red lights are flashing or the stop sign arm is extended, cars in both lanes must stop and wait until the bus resumes travel. This requirement applies to multilane roads, highways and parking lots.
Be aware of children crossing the road and walking on either side. They can do unpredictable things, so proceed with caution when the bus starts moving again.
Exercise Restraint and Patience When Behind Buses
If you are in a hurry, be patient and give the bus and children a break. Don't try to pass a bus that is slowing down to stop. This will endanger the bus as well as the parents and children waiting at the bus stop. Buses are very large, which means it is difficult to see around them. This makes passing them all the more risky. Rather than passing a bus, take an alternate road and always drive within the posted speed limits.
Give a Bus Plenty of Room
Allow plenty of distance when behind the bus so that it can safely make its stops. Be aware that buses make wide turns which makes it difficult to know which way they will turn at intersections. They also have blind spots and may not see you when trying to pass them. Note that school buses are required to stop at railroad tracks.
Be Cautious Around a Stopped Bus
If a bus is stopped but doesn't have its stop sign arm extended or its red lights flashing, slow down and look for hand signals on the driver's side indicating for you to pass.
Drive Carefully Around School Bus Stops
Most school bus stops are not labeled as such. They can be spotted by the groups of children standing by the roadside who may be accompanied by adults. These children are often socializing and distracted. Balls, dogs and bicycles may crisscross the road. Bus stops usually don't have signs or flashing lights indicating that you should slow down and drive carefully by.
Ensure that all children have a safe school year by exercising caution, driving safely and obeying the law.
Your safety is our goal. Call Auto Insurance Discounters at (816) 252-2255 for more information on Kansas City auto insurance.